10 Things To Do In Boston In January

Boston Still Has Lots Of Family Friendly Fun Despite The Cold So Pack Your Coat And Enjoy Its Famous Sites Without The Summer Crowds

Boston is one of my favorite cities in America to visit, especially with kids. I love that it has so much history to explore and that the city has made it so easy to walk around and do just that.

I love the city’s enormous food scene and its dedication to its sports teams– that the mood of the city can entirely depend on how the Red Sox do. Most especially, I love that Boston has its neighbourhoods (23 of them in fact) with their own individual feel. Beacon Hill is not like Charlestown which is not like North End or Fenway.

Plus, there are nearby municipalities that are an easy T stop away that add even more places to explore, such as Cambridge. Spend 30 minutes on the commuter rail and you can even get to farther out places full of fascinating history, like Salem.

All of this awesomeness means that Boston is an extremely popular tourist destination, especially in the summer when sidewalks are crowded and lines for museums are long. So why not go in winter when you can take advantage of inexpensive hotel rooms, cheap flights, and having Paul Revere’s house all to yourself?

Will We Be The Only Tourists There In Winter And Will Everything Be Closed?

Lots of the main touristy things in Boston are open year-round and you will find other people who have decided that New England in winter sounds like fun. So no, you will not be the only tourists there if you are visiting Boston in January.

But almost everything is way less crowded in winter than in summer and to me, that is worth braving a bit of cold.

We had 20 other people on our USS Constitution tour for instance, instead of the 100 or more you could have in summer and we could actually hear the guide and see the things he was pointing out. I have taken the tour in both season and I would take winter again.

10 Things To Do In Boston In Winter

* You won’t need a car to do any of these things which is great because parking in Boston is awful.

1. Walk the Freedom Trail
2. Tour Fenway Park
3. Walk around Harvard and Cambridge
4. See a Celtics Game
5. Eat Italian in the North End or at a historic taverns in downtown.
6. Explore the New England Aquarium
7. Spend the day at a world-class museum downtown
8. Explore the shops, restaurants, and tourist sights in Back Bay
9. Take a day trip to Salem
10. Go ice skating in Boston Common

1. The Freedom Trail

2.5 miles long, 16 historic sites, extends from Boston Common to Bunker Hill

The Freedom Trail is the number one tourist attraction in Boston and rightfully so. Anytime of year that you happen to be visiting, you should make an effort to walk at least part of this trail. It takes you through the heart of the oldest parts of Boston, surrounding you with charming architecture, lots of good restaurants, and plenty of history.

There are 16 sites on the 2.5 mile long Freedom Trail:

1. Boston Common
2. Massachusetts State House
3. Park Street Church
4. Granary Burying Ground
5. King’s Chapel and Burying Ground
6. Boston Latin School Site/ Ben Franklin Statue
7. Old Corner Bookstore
8. Old South Meeting House
9. Old State House
10. Boston Massacre Site
11. Faneuil Hall
12. Paul Revere House
13. Old North Church
14. Copp’s Hill Burying House
15. USS Constitution
16. Bunker Hill Monument.

It really doesn’t matter which end of the trail you begin, so just plan your visit based on the weather and your interests. If you are only interested in a couple of sights, head there first.

It will take about 2 hours to walk the entire trail straight through with a minimum of stops to read information plaques and taking only a few pictures. But I recommend that you plan on doing the trail over at least 2 days so you have time to go inside most of the sites and explore.

In the winter, not only will it be a nice respite from the cold (and probably windy) day outside, but you can really take advantage of the lack of other tourists to pester docents with questions or get tons of solo photos. (We did both of those things. A lot.) Plus, most kids will have a history overload after about 5- 6 sites on the trail so it usually best to do it over more than one day.

If you only have one day, just plan on doing whatever part of the trail interests you most and leave the other parts for your next visit. I promise you, everyone will enjoy it more.

For a complete rundown of all the sites we saw on the Freedom Trail, including what the kids loved and what we found skippable, read “Boston’s Freedom Trail In Winter- What To Do, What Is Closed, And What Is Still Awesome”

Important Details

• All of the sites remain open in winter at least some days, with the exception of Park Street Church (which is only open in summer).
• Everything is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day. Some places are also closed on Christmas Eve or close early.
• A couple of places charge admission (usually under $10 a person) and a couple are “pay what you wish.”

2. Tour Fenway Park

Although I think the only way to really experience Fenway is to see a game there, the tour was a really neat way to see things you definitely don’t get to see during a game, like the press box or the visiting team’s locker room.

The hour long tour is pricey but worth it if you are a fan or even have a passing interest in baseball or Boston history. The tour can also be done in any kind of weather, which is a big plus in winter.

The tour guides are knowledgeable and passionate about Red Sox history so the tours are pretty fun. And, in the winter, they probably won’t have to use their megaphone because there may only be 8 people in your group like we had.

Our favorite part was sitting on top of the Green Monster and hearing its history. I had no idea it was built that tall because originally there was a car dealership next door when they built the park so they did not want any balls going over the top and damaging the cars. It was those nifty little trivia bits that made the tour so interesting.

I also did not know that Fenway has a rooftop garden where they grow vegetables for their concession stands. Not sure how much it actually provides percentage-wise but a nice idea nonetheless.

Details about the tour of Fenway Park

• The park is open 10- 5 in the winter and tours leave every hour. Adults $21/ kids $15 for ages 3-12.
• Fenway tours are often included on the multi-attraction passes for Boston. See my comparison of passes at the end of this blog for more details.
• Be sure to check the website ahead of time to make sure of the hours and to see if they are doing any maintenance that might close down something you really want to see like the Green Monster. Concerts can also affect hours.
• Be aware that you have to go through metal detectors and bag checks. They won’t allow bags bigger than 16”X 16” X 8”. It is not as strict as it is for actual games so a water bottle was fine. See the security policy here.

3. Explore Cambridge (MIT and Harvard)

Out of the 20+ distinct neighborhoods that Boston has, Cambridge is one of my favorites (it is actually its own town within Boston).

Close to downtown, you can easily walk or ride a bike there (even in winter on a nice day- did that last time I was there) as MIT is just about 2.5 miles from downtown walking along the river. Harvard Square is a bit farther at about 5 miles and change.

Cambridge has lots to see “inside” on a cold day as you can pop into some of the campus buildings, visit one of their world famous museums, or just take advantage of the more budget conscious food choices in such a student heavy population.

4. Catch a Celtics or Bruins Game

If you happen to have some extra disposable income (or perhaps won a recent lottery in the case of Bruins tickets), you can watch Boston’s passionate sports fans in action during the winter seasons at TD Garden, right in the heart of downtown Boston.

Tickets ain’t cheap but the “gahden” is like no other and something the kids will remember forever. My brother and his wife gave Boston Celtics tickets to my ten- year old nephew as a Christmas present and it might have been the greatest night of his life so far. Check the website of the Celtics and the Bruins for schedule and prices.

*We bought our tickets resale on Vivid Seats and looked for a game against a bottom dwelling team that wasn’t much of a rival. That made prices slightly more manageable. Slightly.

5. Eat

With teenagers in the family, food is an ever present concern of ours whenever we travel (and at home too for that matter). Luckily Boston is packed full of good restaurants and we enjoy seeing what each neighborhood has to offer.

The North End

The first place we head for food in Boston is Little Italy in the North End. Some of it is a little touristy but the long-lasting places are lasting because they serve great food.

Mike’s Pastry is the famous bakery on Hanover but if the line is out the door or you don’t have cash, try Bova’s Bakery just one block away, at the corner of Prince and Salem St.

For an awesome Italian dinner, try Riccardo’s Ristorante, near the Paul Revere House on North Street. It has become a family tradition to eat there every time we come to Boston because we have always had such good meals.

Historic Taverns

Around Faneuil Hall

The Green Dragon is on a super touristy yet beautifully quaint cobbelstone street near Faneuil Hall. Considering the area, the price and quality of the food wasn’t bad and it makes a great stop as you walk the Freedom Trail. It has some history too as the tavern claims that the British plans for marching on Lexington and Concord were overheard here.

There are several historic places right around the Green Dragon that are very similar and would make good stops if you want to eat somewhere historic. The Bell In Hand Tavern (America’s oldest tavern- 1795) and the Union Oyster House (America’s oldest restaurant- 1826) are probably the two I would choose.

In Charlestown

The Warren Tavern is very near the Bunker Hill monument just across the Charles River from the rest of downtown Boston and is easily walked to. It was established in 1780 and is still a popular place today for locals to gather and have a cozy meal.

6. The New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium is one of Boston’s top attractions and is a must do for anyone that loves the ocean. It isn’t a large place though and doesn’t have the extensive exhibits that some other aquariums in the country have but the touch tank for sharks and rays is always a hit with younger kids.

I think the spiral walk around the main tank is pretty cool and the seals and sea lion exhibits are also pretty neat.

7. Find A Favorite Museum in Boston

There are so many museums that are worth a trip in Boston, but these are some of the best.

The Boston Childrens Museum– A blast for the under 10 crowd but might be a bit too basic for older kids.

The Museum of Science– This is a huge place with a planetarium and lots of interactive exhibits. You could easily spend a whole day here and adults usually have as much fun as the kids. Better for school- aged kids.

Museum of Fine Arts– This museum has one of the largest collections of Monet paintings outside of France if that is one of your favorite painters.

8. Explore Back Bay

Another fantastic neighborhood in Boston, Back Bay is adjacent to Fenway and is packed with things to do, including Copley Square where you’ll find gorgeous Trinity Church and the impressive Boston Public Library. This is a big shopping area, with fun stores lining Newbury Street and more high-end boutiques inside the Prudential Center.

Other activities in Back Bay include a walk along the Charles River, enjoying the 360 views of Boston from the View Boston Observation Deck at the top of the Prudential Building, eating large quantities of Italian food at Eataly, or seeing the world’s largest walk-in globe at the Mapparium.

Read Explore Back Bay for more ideas of things to do in Back Bay.

9. Day Trip To Salem

Just a 35 minute train ride from Boston’s North Station, Salem is a beautiful New England small town that has some historic houses from America’s earliest days, and yes, a lot about witches.

The Salem train station is near the heart of downtown so it is an easy walk to the Peabody museum (started by America’s first sea captains who brought back all kinds of things from their travels), the House of Seven Gables (made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne), the Salem Witch Museum and the Salem Witch House, and Pickering Wharf.

Other day trip ideas include nearby Lexington, Concord, and Plymouth but you really need a car to see the historic sites in those towns. While the train might get you close, it would be too far to walk to reasonably expect to see most of the things, especially in winter.

10. Ice Skating In Boston Common

During the winter the Frog Pond in historic Boston Common gets turned into a fantastic public skating rink. The Frog Pond is a kiddie spray pool in the summer that turns into an awesome ice skating pond from Nov- March. Anyone over 58 inches is $6, below that is free.

Skates cost $12 adults/ $6 kids and they even have big blue seal things that kids can push around to help them with their balance. Or they can just ride the seal while you push them around which I am guessing is how that usually ends up. You can see one of the seals in the picture.

Where To Stay In Boston

I would try to stay downtown if you can as walking and using public transportation are the best ways to get around and see the things mentioned on this list. If you are traveling to Boston by car, then maybe you might want to stay a bit farther out for cheaper parking and take the T into town everyday.

The Residence Inn in Charlestown is a fantastic place, right on the water very near to the USS Constitution. It is a great spot for families because you can get 2 BR suites with a full kitchen (so helpful for snacks) and included breakfast. It is one of our first choices when we visit Boston.

The Hotel Indigo across from TD Garden is another place we like in downtown Boston because not only is it convenient for seeing the Celtics or Bruins play, but it is also across the street from North Station, making getting around Boston a breeze.

The Weather In Winter In Boston

I am sure you are thinking “I don’t want to go to Boston in January because it is cold and rainy and snowy.” And yes, it can be like that some days, but it can also be more temperate than you might think because of its proximity to the ocean.

January/ February averages for Boston:

• Temperature: a high around 37-41 degrees and a low of 23-28 degrees
• Rain: about 8 days a month which is the same year-round
• Snow: less than an inch each month
• Wind: 9 mph (versus average of 5 mph in June). This is the biggest negative as anyone who has lived on a coast knows that the wind can make all the difference.

We made sure we came prepared with hats, gloves, scarves, and good jackets and we did fine. Most of our days were spent popping in and out of historic sites so it is not like you are spending hours outside anyway.

Truly the biggest issue for us visiting in winter versus summer was the early sunrise and sunset due to its location so far east. Boston has only about 9 hours of daylight in January, with the sun rising around 7am and setting before 5pm.

This is a bit of an issue when attractions don’t open until 10 am. That means you are either squeezing all the sights into a shorter amount of time (between 10am and about 4pm) or you are happy seeing some attractions in the dark. Which is actually okay. The Bunker Hill Monument is beautifully lit at night for instance.

*February is a bit better than January with 10- 11 hours of daylight and a sunset after 5 pm.

Getting Around Boston In Winter – Walking, Ride Share, And Public Transportation

We walked everywhere on most days since we were staying downtown and sightseeing mostly in downtown as well. Boston is a very walkable city and we generally spent 10-45 minutes walking or exploring outdoors, then hopping inside a historic site, museum, or restaurant for awhile before heading back outside to walk to the next place.

Ride Share

For places too far away to walk (Cambridge or Fenway for example) or for getting back and forth to the airport, we used Uber/ Lyft and public transportation. Ride sharing is very popular in Boston and you won’t have any problem finding a ride.

Short rides around the city will cost you $8-$10 while the airport might cost $15-$40 depending on time of day and distance.

Public Transportation

Boston’s has a really good public transportation system of subway, buses, street trams, commuter rail, and ferries.

The subway system is known as the “T” and is the one you will use the most as it has lots of stops downtown. There are 2 types of tickets- a CharlieCard (this is a plastic rechargeable card used by locals and is not something you will need) or a CharlieTicket (a durable paper card for single fares and short term visitors- this will be what you get).

Each ride on the subway is $2.90 no matter the destination or time of day. Kids 11 and under ride free.

Buy a CharlieTicket at one of the fare machines in each station. Machines take cash, credit, and debit cards and you can select how much you want to load onto each ticket – one fare or multiples thereof. You will then feed your CharlieTicket into the turnstile gates to enter the station.

Getting the 1 Day or 7 Day Pass for Public Transportation

If you think you are going to ride the T at least 8 times during your stay, then go for the 7 day pass for $22.50. It gets you unlimited travel on the subway, bus, Charlestown ferry, and inner commuter rail zone.

If you are here for only one day, look at the 1 day pass for $12.75. Even if you don’t quite make it pay for itself, it is nice to be able to go straight to the turnstiles and skip the fare machine. The passes are issued on a special CharlieTicket stamped with the time and date.

Getting Back and Forth From the Airport

Getting Into Boston From The Airport

It is quite easy to get into town from the airport using public transportation. Boston has free airport buses that take you to 2 subway stations (why don’t more cities do this?!).

Catch the Silver line (this is a bus despite being color coded like a subway line) to South Station for the Red line — this is a free transfer so you get to ride the Red line for free too.

Or you can take a Massport bus (either # 55 or # 22) to the Airport Station for the Blue line (not a free transfer and you will have to buy a CharlieTicket to get on the subway here). All of the free buses pick up right outside baggage claim in their appointed area. Look for the signs for each bus pick-up.

Last time we went to Boston, half of our family took an Uber to our hotel in Charlestown from the airport and the other half took the airport bus/ subway combo. The Uber beat the public transportation people by 5 minutes and that’s only because we had to walk from the station. The public transportation people won on cost though.

Going To The Airport

Going to the airport from town is also easy and basically involves the same routes as mentioned above, just in reverse.

The only difference is if you are taking the Silver Line from South Station, you will have to pay a normal fare as the ride is only free coming from the airport, not going to it. The Massport shuttles to and from the Airport Station (serving the Blue line) are always free.

Learn more about using public transport to/ from Logan Airport here.

Should You Get An All Inclusive Pass for Multiple Attractions?

That depends on what you intend to do. If you like museums and are one of those people that will want to go inside all the sites on the Freedom Trail plus a few more places, then yes, a pass will probably save you money but not a whole lot.

The biggest question is whether you think you will see more than one of the pricey attractions in Boston like the Aquarium, take a Fenway tour, Museum of Science, Children’s Museum, etc. That is where the pass can really save you some cash.

If you just want to do the sites on the Freedom Trail, then you probably don’t need a pass as most of the sites on the trail don’t cost much anyway, so you won’t make your money back on the more expensive passes. You especially don’t need it for kids as they are often free at sites along the Freedom Trail.

Keep in mind that some of the included attractions on many of the passes aren’t even an option in winter, like a Whale Watching tour. The hop-on-hop-off-trolleys often only operate on the weekends as well. Passes are often discounted in the winter to make up for this, but often they are not discounted enough to make up for the missing attractions.

*None of the passes include public transportation- you will need a separate CharlieTicket for that.

So think realistically about what you are going to be able to accomplish in the days you are in Boston. The multi- attraction passes are usually $70- $100 and may not cover everything what you want to see. We always make a list of our top places, then add up the admission prices and compare it to the pass.

There are 2 main passes to choose from if you decide they are a good idea for your family:

1) The Boston CityPass

• includes the New England Aquarium and the Museum of Science plus 2 of the following- the ViewBoston Observatory (in Back Bay), the Harvard Museum of Natural History, a Boston Harbour Cruise, or the Franklin Park Zoo.
• Price $74 adults/ $62 kids.

2) The GoCity Pass has 2 options (it does not include the aquarium):

• All Inclusive– Pick the number of days you want (either 1, 2, or 3) and go see any of the listed attractions on those days. It is expensive, covers way more than you could reasonably see, and some things included aren’t open in the winter or are limited. Only good if you intend to spend a lot of time at high dollar attractions like the Museum of Science, Childrens Museum, Fenway, etc. A 3 day pass is $129 adults/ $94 kids.
• Explorer– Pick a card good for 2, 3, 4, or 5 attractions. This is a good idea if you know you want to go to at least 2 expensive places such as the Museum of Science, Fenway, or the Childrens Museum. A 2 attraction pass is $54 adults/ $39 kids.

As you can see from the chart below, we would not have made any of the passes pay for itself on our last trip because we mostly saw relatively cheap attractions.